Muslim Empires in 1683 Ottoman, Safavid, & Mughal
Muslim Empires were characterized by…
New military technology (gunpowder & cannons)
Strong armies
Cultural diffusion
Improvements to bureaucratic government
Mehmed the Conqueror Ottomans
1300 - Byzantine Empire in decline
Islamic warriors raided Byzantine Territory
Most famous – Othman; his followers known as Ottomans.
In 1453, Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conqueror) captured Constantinople after a seven-week long battle.
Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire:Suleyman the Magnificent
Ruled for 46 years Great military leader Created new law code (known
as “the Lawgiver”) & reduced taxes (improved citizens’ lives)
20,000 personal slaves staffed his bureaucracy
Religious freedom Flourishing of art, literature, &
architecture
Suleyman the Magnificent
Devshirme System (Army) Male children of conquered
Christian territories were educated, trained, & converted to Islam so they could later fight in Suleyman’s army
Great opportunity for many young boys
Many Christians bribed Muslim officials to accept their children into the Devshirme system
Mosque of Suleyman
Safavid Empire
Safavid Empire:Abbas the Great
Also known as Shah Abbas (king) Limited power of the military Reformed government by
punishing corruption & only promoting officials who were worthy
Expanded trade w/ Europe Built capital city of Esfahan,
considered to be one of the most beautiful
Expansion of art (sent artists to Europe to study under artist Raphael; carpet weaving became a national industry)
Safavid Art & Architecture
Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire:Babur Inherited the
kingdom at the age 11
It was taken away from him by his more powerful elders
He raised a powerful army & regained control of the Empire
Mughal Empire:Akbar
Grandson of Babur Akbar means “Great” Took the throne at age
13 Supported aggressive
military power Flourishing of art,
literature, & architecture Supported cultural
diffusion
Mughal Empire:Akbar
Cultural diffusion:Islamic tradition of religious freedom Married Hindu princesses &
allowed them to practice Hindu rituals in his palace
Appointed a Christian monk to tutor his son
Foreigners could rise to a high office in gov’t
Soldiers of different languages developed a new language, Urdu, meaning “from the soldier camp”
Islamic Empires Decline Incompetent leadership leads to the
decline of both the Ottoman and Safavid Empires